Studying Planaria Regeneration to Develop Pharmaceutical Products
Regeneration Occurs Infrequently in Humans, but Plentifully in Planaria
Turning to a Worm for Answers
If only the arm, the leg, or the skin could be re-grown or regenerated! Burned skin would not need grafting, an arm or a leg could grow back. Certainly these things are not happening today, but it could be that much light could be shed on the subject of regeneration by a small pond-dwelling creature. To merely discuss planaria would be to bore the reader, so it consideration is highly recommended of this 55-second video to gain appreciation of its beauty, and its power to fascinate scientists.
Exceptional Regenerative Power of Planaria
Just how extensive is the regenerative power of planaria? It is enormous. Cuts inflicted in the head (without severing) do not automatically kill these worms, but can result in multi-headed creatures. For instance, this eight-headed planarium was produced in just such a fashion. Imagine such regenerative power granted to human beings.
Howard Hughes Medical Institute Video
To obtain a greater appreciation of the diversity of Planaria's regenerative power, consider this video by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.1 Part two of the video presentation is found here.
Clearly the field of molecular biology is producing some fascinating discoveries that directly affect human welfare. What new discoveries yet remain on the scientific horizon?
1Citation of this video is not meant to imply the author agrees with all of its content. Also, the author does not support the use of stem-cells obtained through abortion of developing humans."
References and Resources:
Gina Mikel - Illustration - Planarium Illustration
Exploratorium - Microscope Imaging Station
Harvard University Life Services Outreach Program - Planaria Regeneration Lab
Science Buddies.org - "Animal Magnetism: Do Magnets Affect Regeneration in Planaria?"
Published by Vincent Summers
My secular expertise includes 23 years of experience at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, with a share in NASA's extended Voyager 2 effort. I formerly wrote for Demand Studios, Bukisa, Suite 101, Exa... View profile
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20 Comments
Post a CommentInteresting. Thanks for sharing.
Complex and very interesting
Self-healing skin and regenerating limbs and organs sound like sci-fi but who knows?...one day perhaps, hopefully.
Yes, I once read the text on Watson & Crick's (with assistance by an X-ray crystallographer named Rosalind Franklin) uncovering of the structure of DNA.
Knowledge progressing at warp speed.
We had a four-headed planaria in one of my biology classes...way back when they had just "discovered" that DNA was a double-helix. What was high school biology then is in 5th and 6th grade science books now.
Utterly fascinating! And the planaria really are beautiful (thanks for including the video)! Imagine being able to use this little pond-dwelling creature to regenerate human limbs; how amazing. And this wouldn’t have to involve the human stem-cell controversy. We definitely have to pursue our research with molecular biology; in particular with planaria. And research grants have to be made available. Great article!
If only--right? You would think that if plants could do it, humans would also be able to do it. Good article
Very interesting article that I enjoyed reading! I had a friend who lost their arm in a machinery accident that could not be rejoined.
Fascinating.